Cover bob soaking pits



Aug. 3 1926.,

T. F. EHLY COVER FOR SOAKING PITS Filed Jan. 2. 1925 w inve/wrox m @i QW@ m4 attorney@ der side of Patented Aug. 3, 192.6. I

UNTEosTATs PIA/T 15594583 i-:NTy ortica;

'rrmnnnus r. BAILY, or annuncia, omo.

' Govan ron sourire rr'ra Application led January 2, 1925. Serial I0.'152.

ing the cover sideways to permit access tol the interior of the pit, the mechanismbeing so constructed that the cover may be moved to either side of the pit andstopped in a position to uncover approximately one-half of.

the hole, whereby ingots may be removed from either side of the hole without/entirely uncovering the hole and unduly coolingY the same; the cover and operating mechanism being so constructed that the cover may be easily and readily detached and entirely removed in order that the same may be repaired or replaced.4

The above and otherobjects may beobtained by constructing the invention in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1,is an elevation partly in section showing the improved cover and operating mechanism as applied to a soaking pit, and, Fig. 2 an enlarged section on the llne 2 2, F ig. 1. 4

The side walls of one hole of a soaking pit are indicated atA 1, a trough 2 being located around 'the open top of the hole for the purpose of receiving sandas shown at 3 to form a sand seal around the depending flange 4 of the cover indicated generally at 5.

A spaced pair of uprightears 6 is formed upon each side of the cover and pivotally 'connected as shown at 7 and 8 to the cranks 9 and 10 respectively. Each of these cranks is pivoted upon a shaft or axle 11 provided with a pair of lianged wheels 12 mounted on the tracks 13. i A link 14 pivotally connects the upper ends of each pair of cranks 9 and 10 whereby the cranks will be caused to rock simulta.- neously upon the axles 11 when either crank is moved.

A. roller v15 is provided upon onecrank of leach pair, preferably upon the crank 10 as illustrated and arranged to engage the una track 16 which may be rigidly of the stationary secured in any desired manner -above lthe traction wheels, as by comliecti'tiril to the lide ate 1 is trac is provided, intermediate its extremities2 with 'a raised, substantially half round portlon 18 solocated as to permit the cranks 9 and 10 t o assume the position illustrated in full lines Flg.' 1, lowering the cover overthe hole of the soaking pit and closing the sand seal around thel same. y

For the purpose of moving the cover a. cable or chain 19 is connected at'one end `to the lower portion of each crank 9 and then extended outto a-point spaced from one side' of the hole and around a pulley 20, thence back to a point spaced from the other end A,of the hole and around a drum 21 which.

may. be driven b `a motor or kthe like, the cable on chain t en extending around the pulleys 22 and 23 and being connected to the upper portion of each crank 10. l

In operatingthe mechanism to Iraise the cover and move the same awayy from the hole; assuming the cover is in the closed position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the drum 21 is rotated in the direction of the arrow thereon i cable to the rig t as indicated by the arrow adjacent thereto. The cranks 9 and 10 are thus rocked to the right, the roller 15 riding down out of the lialf round portion 18 and onto the straight portion'of the track. As this movement takes place it will be seen that the cover will be raised substantially vertically out of the sand trough and a further movement of the cable in this direction will pull the cover to the right, the roller 15 being engaged with the under side ofl the flat portion of the track 16 holding the cover in the raised position.

.The cover may Ibe moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 entirely uncovering the hole and permitting access thereto; or if desired, the drum 21 may be stopped when the cover-has only been moved half way across the top otithe hole, thus permitting ingots from the left side of the hole to be removed or replaced without uncovering the entire hole and unduly lowering the temperature of the same.

To replace the cover in closed position th(` drum 2l is rotated inthe opposite direction from that above described, pulling the cover, 1n the raised position, t0 the left until it assumes a lposition above the hole, when the ulling the-upper strand or roller l" will ride up intothe half round portion of the track 16 lowering the cover into engagement with the sand seal.

In order to move the cover to the left, the drum 21 is rotated in a direction opposite to the arrow shown in Fig. 1, the cranks 9 and 10 being first tilted b the roller 15 moving out of the half roun ortion 18 of the track and under the straight portion thereof, raising `the coverl out of' engagement with the sand seal and moving the same in the raised position toward the left uncovering the hole lto permit access to the interior thereof. o

When it is desired to detach the cover in order to repair or replace the same it is only necessary to continue the movement of the same to the left until the roller 15 is disengaged from the track 16 when the cable may be disconnected from the cranks 9 and 10 and the entire cover and associated mechanism may be removed.

From the above it will be obvious that the present invention provides 4means for automatically raising the cover of a soaking pit, or the like, substantially vertically out of engagement with the sand seal and moving the cover to one side permitting access to the interior of the pit, and for automatically moving the cover back into closed position and lowering it into engagement with the sand seal.

I claim:

1. A cover adapted to close the open upper end of a soakmg pit or the like, a shaft attached to each end of the cover, cranks upon the ends of the shafts, the front end ot each crank connecting with each shaft axles connected with the ulcrum ends o the cranks, straight parallel tracks above the soaking pit, wheels upon the axles mounted on said tracks, parallel links connecting the upper ends of the cranks together, a wheel located on each of the rear cranks, tracks above said last named wheels and parallel to the first named tracks, said upper tracks having half-round raised Vportions forengaging the wheels upon the' cranks when the cover is in closed-position allowing the cover to descend to its lowermost position, and an endless cable'connected at one end to the rear cranks and at the other end to the front cranks.

2. A cover adapted to close the open upper end of a soaking pit or the like, a shaft attached to each end of the cover, cranks u on the ends of the shafts, the front end oi) each crank connecting with each shaft axles connected with the fulcrum ends o the cranks, straight parallel tracks above the soaking pit, wheels upon the axles mounted on said tracks, parallel links connecting the upper ends of the cranks together, a wheel located on each of the rear cranks, tracks above said last named wheels and parallel to the first named tracks, said upper tracks having half-round raised portions for engaging the wheels upon the cranks when the cover is in closed position allowing the cover to descend to its lowermost position, and an endless cable connected at one end to the rear cranks and at the other end to the front cranks, the cable being connected to .the front cranks at a point below the level of the shafts so that when the cover is pulled toward the closed position pressure will be relieved on' the Wheels and upper tracks which maintain the cover in its lifted position during travel.

3. A cover adapted to close the open u per end of a soaking pit or the like, tracks located above the pit, wheels mounted upon the tracks, an axle connecting the wheels, a crankpivotally mounted upon the axle and pivotally connected to the cover, a roller upon the crank, a guide track for engagement with the roller and provided wlth a yrounded raised portion to receive the roller when the cover is in closed position, and

means for moving the wheels upon the.

track t0 raise the cover and move the same away from the open upper end of the pit.

4. A cover adapted to close the open upper end of a soaking pit or the like, tracks located above the it, wheels mounted upon the tracks, an ax e connecting the wheels, a crank pivotally mounted upon the axle and pivotally connected to the cover, a roller upon the crank, a guide track for engagement with the roller and provided with a rounded raised portion to receive the roller when the cover is in closed position and an endless flexible member connected t0 the crank for moving the wheels upon the track to raise the cover and move the same away from the open upper end of the pit.

5. A cover adapted to close the open upper end of a soaking pit or the like, tracks above the soaking pit, spaced pairs of wheels mounted upon the tracks, an axle connecting each pair of wheels, ai crank pivoted upon each axle and pivotally connected t0 the cover. a link pivotally connecting the cranks, a cable connected to both of the cranks, means for moving the cable in either direction, .and means for' rocking the cranks to raise the cover from 'the open upper end 0f the pit.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

THADDEUS F. BAILY. 

